Pride Month will look a little different this June. Usually, members of the LGBTQ community would gather for festivals, parades, and events to celebrate their identities and the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots, which spurred the gay rights movement. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most major events have been postponed to dates when it will hopefully be safe once again for people to congregate and celebrate.
Here’s how and when Pride will happen this year.
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The annual St. Louis PrideFest has been rescheduled for August 15 and 16, with the Pride Parade happening at noon on the 16th. It still plans to have an assortment of vendors and entertainment, though the specifics have yet to be released. It will also keep its location: the parks across from City Hall and Market Street, between N. 15th and N. Tucker streets. Admission will be free, but a $5 donation is encouraged.
Tower Grove Pride has also been rescheduled for August; specifically, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on August 29 at Tower Grove Park. In the meantime, though, it will host a Pride Care-A-Van from noon to 3 p.m. on June 28. The caravan will allow people to decorate their cars and drive through St. Louis as “a safe and responsible way for us to come together,” according to the Facebook event. All people have to do to join is register their vehicles beforehand. The route map will be announced closer to the date.
Metro Trans Umbrella Group is going online for Pride this year, with a virtual Town Hall meeting and dance party at 4 p.m. June 6. At the Town Hall, members of the community can hear the group’s leaders, staff, and board members respond to pre-submitted questions and ideas about how they can continue to support the community. After the meeting, the livestream will turn into a virtual dance party.
For those outside the city, St. Charles Pride Festival will begin at noon on October 3 at the Family Arena. Its second annual parade will happen nearby, along Frontier Park on Main Street. The festival and parade will both be free, and feature vendors both inside and outside the arena.
